Express Care: Learn About It

Expressing Care

What Does It Mean to Express Care?

Expressing care is key to family strengths. When we care for each other, we show that we like each other. And we want the best for each other. We do this when we . . .

Listen to each other—Pay attention to each other and have open, respectful communication.

Are warm to each other—Let each other know that we like being together.

Invest in each other—Commit time to do things for each other.

Show interest—Care about each person’s feelings and interests.

Are dependable—Be someone others can count on and trust.

Why Does Expressing Care Matter?

How family members express care affects family life and how kids develop. Some examples from research:

Children need good parent-child communication. Good communication helps children’s solve problems, make friends, and adapt to change. 1 It is also a key to families being close to each other.2

Caring relationships are the basis for forming strong attachments in early childhood.3 As they grow up, children and youth who have warm, caring relationships with their parents do better in school. They have better social skills and relationships. They engage in fewer risky behaviors, such as aggression and early sexual activity.4

Parent-child relationships grow stronger when parents invest in things that matter for their children. Parents may even sacrifice their own preferences.5 Children’s self-confidence and well-being increase when they know their parents and others are invested in them.

“Sparks” are children’s deep passions or interests. Young people who have family members who support their sparks attend school more regularly and work harder when they’re there. They also have a more hopeful outlook and sense of purpose.6

Young people do better when they have mutual trust and dependability with their parents. They are less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors such as vandalism, substance use, and early sexual activity.7

The State of Expressing Care in Families

U.S. parents of 3 to 13 year olds surveyed who score high on the five actions that are part of expressing care:

SOURCE: Search Institute survey of 1,000 parenting adults in the United States. Made possible with generous support from Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.